MUSIC SCATTERBRAIN : Rockin’ All Over : Parental discretion is advised as the band brings its New York style to the West Coast.

If any band should be doing one of those rock ‘n’ roll beer commercials, it should be Scatterbrain, a group based in Long Island, N.Y., that’s currently carousing its way from sea to shining sea. With all the subtlety of a New York cabbie and accents like Howard Stern, the quintet is touring in support of its debut album, “Scamboogery,” on the Elektra label.

Parental discretion is advised when the tour arrives at the Anaconda Theatre in Isla Vista on Monday night, and not just because of the headliners. Opening will be Ugly Kid Joe, a collection of Santa Barbara locals with their own new album on Polygram.

Scatterbrain is a group of five swaggering rock ‘n’ roll dudes, cruising around in a big party bus. Tommy Christ sings. Guy Brogna plucks that bass, and Mike Boyko hits those drums. The guitarists are Glen Cummings and classically trained Paul Nieder, who covers Mozart’s Sonata No. 11--yup, that Mozart. Their lyrics are smart and funny--not your usual party-animal-dude odes to overdoing it.

Cummings agreed to discuss the life and times of his favorite band in a recent phone interview.

How’s the album, the tour and all that?

Well, as far as we can tell, the tour is doing well. The album has done 50 or 60 (thousand in sales) as of two weeks ago.

What about Ugly Kid Joe?

I think it’s their first tour, and we’re trying to teach them the ropes. . . . After a show, it’s a total madhouse in our tour bus. But when we go over to their bus, they’re playing Nintendo. We try and send them a naked woman whenever we can. I think their manager is very strict.

Where did you get the name Scatterbrain--is this some sort of a blond joke?

Actually, we got it from a Jeff Beck song.

How did Scatterbrain get started?

Tommy, Paul and I had another band called Ludichrist, but we lost our rhythm section. When we replaced them, we were a lot better than before, so we just reinvented ourselves.

Describe Scatterbrain music.

Oh, boy. I’ve been saving this one: eclectic rock for the ‘90s.

Nice word, eclectic. Now spell it.

No.

Scatterbrain songs don’t have the typical booze, boogie and bimbo lyrics. Are you guys trying to confuse all those stupid little metal kids?

We just do what we do. A lot of people can’t understand more than one thing at once. We’re just a crazy party band that occasionally plays intricate music. The lyrics are literate, and sometimes, the crowds are starting to get it.

What’s your song “Tastes Like Chicken” all about?

It’s about how everything on the radio is some sort of formula rock. You hear the same songs over and over again, and the same commercials too. Is it the new M.C. Hammer or an Alpo commercial? It’s all the same. We want our piece of the pie too, but on our own terms.

What’s the best and worst thing about your job?

The best thing is that I get to act like a jerk, say whatever I want to anybody, stay drunk all the time and get paid for it. . . . I guess that’s the worst thing too.

What was the strangest Scatterbrain gig?

We played at a steakhouse in Seattle one time. On the marquee, it said, “$5.95 chicken dinner and Scatterbrain.”

There’s no hairdresser credits on your album. Is long hair back?

We can’t blame anybody for our hairstyles. We’re just too lazy to cut our hair.

Complete this sentence: It’s only rock and roll but. . .

Boy, am I tired.

* WHERE AND WHEN

Scatterbrain and Ugly Kid Joe play at 8 p.m. Monday at the Anaconda Theatre, 935 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista, 685-3112. Tickets are $10.